Aerospace Engineering Commons^™

Effect Of Wall Temperature Control On Low-Speed Axisymmetric Body Drag, John C. Lin

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

This paper presents results of a numerical study of the effect of wall temperature control on the low speed aerodynamic drag of axisymmetric bodies at turbulent Reynolds numbers and zero angle of attack.

Results for both skin-friction and pressure drag were computed for slender bodies using first-order viscous-inviscid interaction theory. Computations using boundary-layer theory were conducted to evaluate the effect of wall heat transfer on bluff-body separation control. Wall heat transfer with 100 percent surface coverage (for all bodies) as well as some partial surface coverage cases were investigated. The wall-to­ tota1-freestream temperature ratio was varied between 0.08 and 2. …

Studies On The Interference Of Wings And Propeller Slipstreams, Ramadas K. Prabhu

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The small disturbance potential flow theory is applied to determine the lift of an airfoil in a nonuniform parallel stream. The given stream is replaced by an equivalent stream with a certain number of velocity discontinuities, and the influence of these discontinuities is obtained by the method of images. Next, this method is extended to the problem of an airfoil in a nonuniform stream of smooth velocity profile. This model allows perturbation velocity potential in a rotational undisturbed stream. A comparison of these results with numerical solutions of Euler equations indicates that, although approximate, the present method provides useful information …

Implementation Of Uniform Perturbation Method For Potential Flow Past Axisymmetric And Two-Dimensional Bodies, Tin Chee Wong

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The aerodynamic characteristics of potential flow past an axisymmetric slender body and a thin airfoil are calculated by using a uniform perturbation analysis method. The method is based on the superposition of potentials of point singularities distributed inside the body. The strength distribution satisfies a linear integral equation by enforcing the flow tangency condition on the surface of the body. The complete uniform asymptotic expansion of its solution is obtained with respect to the slenderness ratio by modifying and adapting an existing technique. Results calculated by the perturbation analysis method are compared with the existing surface-singularity-panel method and some available …

An Experimental And Analytical Investigation Of Friction Factors For Fully Developed Flow In Internally Finned Triangular Ducts, Hoshang Chegini

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Friction factors for fully-developed flow in triangular ducts with fins of various sizes are investigated for Reynolds numbers ranging from 150 to 90,000. Two triangular ducts having apex angles of 60 and 38.8 degrees are studied. Results are presented in the form of standard plots of friction factor as a function of Reynolds number. Friction factor values for the smooth triangular-duct cases are in good agreement with the existing results. For the finned-duct cases, the fully developed axial-velocity profiles in laminar flow are determined by solving the x-momentum equation iteratively by the Gauss-Seidel finite difference technique. The theoretically determined friction …

An Analytical Design Procedure For The Determination Of Effective Leading Edge Extensions On Thick Delta Wings, Farhad Ghaffari

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

An analyt1cal des1gn procedure for Lead1ng-Edge Extensions (LEE) has been developed for thick delta wings. This LFE device is des1gned to be mounted to a w1ng along the pseudo-stagnation stream surface associated w1th the attached flow design lift coeff1cient of greater than zero. The intended purpose of the device is to improve the aerodynamic performance of high subsonic and low super son1c aircraft at incidences above that of attached flow design lift coefficient, by us1ng a vortex system emanating along the leading edges of the device. The low pressure assoc1ated with these vort1ces would act on the LEE upper surface …

On The Space Shuttle Wing Thermal-Structural Analysis, Kumar Krishna Tamma

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

A finite element approach for efficient thermal-structural analysis of structures with thermal protection systems (TPS) is described. The approach is applied to Space Shuttle wing structure configurations subjected to reentry heating. New two and three-dimensional finite elements are developed to model heat transfer in the TPS and supporting structure. A typical TPS/Structural element predicts transient nonlinear temperature variations through the TPS thickness and detailed structural temperatures at the TPS/Structure interface. The accuracy of the TPS/Structure approach in two and three-dimensions is evaluated by comparisons with the conventional approach for various configurations of the wing structure. The results indicate that the …

Viscous Modeling And Computation Of Leading-And Trailing-Edge Vortex Cores Of Delta Wings, Balakrishnan Lakshmanan

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

A Finite-Difference method is presented for calculating steady quasi-axisymmetric flow of an incompressible fluid at large Reynolds number. Approximations of the boundary-layer type are employed to reduce the Navier-Stokes equations to a pair of non-linear parabolic equations. Along with the governing equations, initial conditions are specified at some upstream cross section and boundary conditions are specified at the axis of symmetry and on the outer bounding surface.

The governing equations are replaced by a set of quasilinear finite-difference equations. The solution is obtained by a marching technique, which proceeds step-by-step in the axial direction. At each axial station, an iterative …

An Approach For Including Reliability In Control System Designs, Ime Isaac Akpan

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

An approach is developed for non-catastrophic control component failure accommodation for large space structures. Reliability is considered for both the control configuration (i.e., selecting actuator locations over an admissible set) and the ultimate operation of the system. The approach presented is to construct a measure of performance that indicates the absolute goal of the system, and for a given structural design, to determine the lowest achievable cost conditional upon the failure states of the system (i.e., which actuators are operational). These costs are then weighted and summed to provide an overall system performance measure. This expected performance measure is then …

Interaction Of A Two-Dimensional Transverse Jet With A Supersonic Mainstream, Gilbert Otto Kraemer

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

A experimental investigation of the interaction of a twodimensional sonic jet injected transversely into a confined main flow has been conducted. The main flow consisted of air at a Mach number of 2.9. The effects of varying the jet parameters on the flow field were examined using surface pressure and composition data. Also, the downstream flow field was examined using static pressure, pitot pressure, and composition profile data. The jet parameters varied were gapwidth, jet static pressure, and injectant species of either helium or nitrogen. The values of the jet parameters used were 0.039, 0.056,and 0.109 cm for the gapwidth …

Analysis Of Aerothermodynamic Environment Of A Titan Aerocapture Vehicle, Hsing Chow

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The extent of convective and rad1ative heating for a Titan entry vehicle is invest1gated. The flow in the shock layer is assumed to be axisymmtric, steady, viscous, and compressible. It is further assumed that the gas is in chemical and local thermodynamic equilibrium and tangent slab approximation is used for the rad1ative transport. The effect of slip boundary conditions on the body surface and at the shock wave are included in the analysis of high altitude entry conditions. The implicit finite difference technique is used to .solve the viscous shock layer equations for a 45-degree sphere cone at zero angle …

Low Speed Handling Characteristics Of A Supersonic Transport By Eigenstructure Assignment, Michael Peter Lazar

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

A synthesis procedure, based upon optimal regulator theory and eigenvalue/eigenvector assignment technique, was used in the design of a low-speed lateral control system for the SCAT-15F supersonic transport. Emphasis was placed on reducing the lateral acceleration at the pilot's station. Control laws were designed to make the aircraft handling characteristics acceptable with the exception of the lateral acceleration. It was found that a compromise between the roll performance requirements and the peak lateral acceleration requirement is needed for a successful SCAT-15F design.

Experimental Study Of Delta Wing Leading-Edge Devices For Drag Reduction At High Lift, Thomas Dwight Johnson Jr.

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Future fighter aircraft requirements specify efficient supersonic cruise and high-g maneuverability at high lift. The slender delta wing meets the first requirement but has large lift induced drag increments at high lift. One method to alleviate the drag is to control the flow at the wing leading edge (LE) by means of small LE devices, so as to maintain locally attached flow to higher angles of attack and thus increase the level of aerodynamic thrust.

The devices selected for evaluation were the fence, slot, pylon-type vortex generator (VG), and sharp leading-edge extension (SLEE). These devices were tested on a 60° …

A Nonlinear Hybrid Vortex Method For Wings Having Side-Edge Separations, Li-Chuan Chu

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

A Nonlinear Hybrid-Vortex method (NHV-method) has been developed for predicting the aerodynamic characteristics of wings exhibiting side-edge separations. The present method is a coupline between vortex-panel and vortex-line methods. In the near-field calculations, vortex panels are used while in the far-field calculat1ons, vortex lines are used.

The wing and its free-shear layers are divided into planar quadrilateral panels having first-order vorticity distribution. The aerodynamic boundary conditions and continuity of the vorticity distributions are imposed at certain nodal points on the panels. An iterative technique is used to satisfy these conditions to obtain the vorticity distributions and the wake shape as …

Influence Of Nonequilibrium Radiation And Shape Change On The Flowfield Of A Jupiter Probe With Ablation And Mass Injection, Sundaresa Venkata Subramanian

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The influence of nonequilibrium radiative energy transfer and the effect of probe configuration changes on the flow phenomena around a Jovian entry body is investigated. The radiating shock-layer flow is assumed to be axisymmetric, viscous, laminar and in chemical equilibrium. The radiative transfer equations are derived under nonequilibrium conditions which include multi-level energy transitions. The equilibrium radiative transfer is calculated with an existing nongray radiation model which accounts for molecular band, atomic line and continuum transitions. The nonequilibrium results are obtained with and without ablation injection in the shock layer. The nonequilibrium results are found to be influenced greatly by …

Analytic And Experimental Studies Of A True Airspeed Sensor, Joseph Yao-Cheng Shen

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The objective of this study was to analyze and design a true airspeed sensor which will replace the conventional pitot-static pressure transducer. This sensor should have the following characteristics: the flow phenomenon is vortex procession, or the "vortex whistle", it should have no moving parts, and also is to be independent of temperature, density, altitude or humidity changes. This sensor has been designed mainly for small commercial aircraft with the airspeed up to 321.9 km/hr (200 mph).

In an attempt to model the complicated fluid mechanics of the vortex precession, three-dimensional, inviscid, unsteady, incompressible fluid flow was studied by using …

Curing And Flow Of Thermosetting Resins For Composite Materials Pultrusion, Howard L. Price Jr.

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Fibrous composite materials for mechanical and structural applications often are expensive due to high labor costs. One economical way of making composites is pultrusion, a manufacturing process in which resin-impregnated fibers are pulled at a constant speed through a heated die which shapes the resin-fiber mass and cures the resin. Most of the work which has been done on the process has been of an empirical nature, with limited understanding of the process principles. Most of the experience with pultrusion has been gained with polyester resins and glass fibers. Very little experience has been gained with higher performance, more costly …

An Experimental Investigation Of A Turbulent Boundary Layer With Suction Through Closely Spaced Streamwise Slots, Stephen P. Wilkinson

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The object of this research was to experimentally evaluate a suction surface for use with incompressible turbulent boundary layers. The surface consisted of an array of closely spaced slots aligned in the direction of the free stream flow. Direct drag and mean boundary layer velocity profile measurements showed that the slotted surface had nominally the same suction characteristics as the porous surface.

Static Temperature Measurements In Supersonic Flow Using Lasar Raman Spectroscopy, Paul A. Nystrom

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Laser Raman spectroscopy is a nonintrusive technique which can generate mean static temperature (MST) data within flow fields. By ratioing two simultaneously gathered portions of the Raman scattered spectrum, absolute intensity measurements were not needed. This method was applied to a supersonic cold air jet, where the NST ranged from 160'K to 300'K. Accurate measurements were not realized due to the presence of flow contaminates, especially water vapor.

Evaluation Of Hydrogen As A Cryogenic Wind Tunnel Test Gas, Richard Carl Haut Ii

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

A theoretical analysis of the properties of hydrogen has been made to determine the suitability of hydrogen as a cryogenic wind tunnel test gas. By using Cryogenic hydrogen, instead of air or cryogenic nitrogen, as the wind tunnel test gas, a significant increase in the test Reynolds number may be achieved without increasing the aerodynamic loads. Under sonic conditions, for example, compared to air at ambient temperature, cryogenic hydrogen at a pressure of one atmosphere produces an increase in Reynolds number of a factor of approximately fourteen while cryogenic nitrogen, at the same pressure, produces an increase of only a …

Analysis Of Spread Multi-Jet Vtol Aircraft In Hover, Leroy F. Albang

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

An investigation of VTOL aircraft lift losses in hover has been conducted to evaluate a method for a simplified test technique. Three flat plate models were tested to determine their usefulness in predicting hover characteristics by comparing results between plate and three­ dimensional models. Attempts to correlate the out of ground effect results for the plate models with the empirical expression for calculating jet-induced loads were successful for the models which used engine simulators producing efflux characteristics similar to the three­ dimensional model engines. Data for the model using engine simulators with characteristics unlike those of the three-dimensional model simulators …

An Experimental Investigation Of A Cold Jet With Solid Centerbody Emitting From A Flat Plate Into A Subsonic Free Stream, Danny K. Livingston

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

A study of the influence of a solid center body on lift loss and pitching moment has been conducted. It has been well established that a round free jet emitted from a flat plate at right angles to a cross flow causes an induced pressure distribution on the plate which adversely affects the lift and pitching stability of the flat plate.

This investigation has employed a 2.58 - cm diameter round jet with a 1.91 - cm diameter solid rounded core in order to modify the induced flow field and attempt to reduce the lift loss and pitching moment. Preliminary …

Dynamics Of Explosion Remnants In Earth-Orbits, Joseph T. Fuss

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Explosions in space produce particles that are hazardous to space vehicles. Some of these particles are not trackable and their locations must be predicted by dynamical methods.

This investigation sheds light on three different, areas, First, ignoring perturbations, the characteristics of a three dimensional envelope outlined by the sum of individual particle orbits is determined, Second, the distribution of the particles is found as a function of time, Finally, the movement, of the body via secular perturbations is investigated. Magnitudes of the explosion, the point of. detonation in the parent satellite's orbit, and the radius of perigee of the parent …

Computer-Aided Design Of Light Aircraft To Meet Certain Aerodynamic And Structural Requirements, Joanne Lynn Walsh

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Nonlinear mathematical programming techniques are applied to a particular aircraft design problem, that of determining the maximum range design for light aircraft subject to certain aerodynamic and structural requirements. Search techniques available in an existing nonlinear optimization computer program, AESOP, are applied to the design problem. Seven design variables are used to define the wing dimensions, the wing skin thickness, the cruise velocity, the amount of fuel carried, and the engine horsepower. The influence of different design requirements on the range is observed and discussed.

The Analysis Of A Subsonic Jet Issuing Perpendicular To A Freestream Flow From A Flat Plate And A Body Of Revolution, Donald R. Haberman

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

An investigation was undertaken to determine the nature of the pressure region around a jet issuing perpendicular to a free stream flow from a flat plate and a cylindrical surface, and to determine the forces which resulted from such a pressure region. It was also attempted to develop an empirical relation to enable the prediction of surface pressure regions from known physical parameters.

The jet was exhausted from a 0.375 inch nozzle perpendicular to a free stream flow of about 90 ft./sec. The flow rate of the jet was then varied to give three free stream to jet velocity ratios …

An Experimental Study Of A Type Of Vortex Sink Rate Sensors, Rao V. Arimilli

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

In order to study the flow field in the sink region of a vortex Sink Rate Sensor, an experimental study was initiated .. Using two probes, one for the total pressure measurements and the other for the static pressure measurements, data was collected for two flow rates, various rates of rotation and at various points in the sink region of the flow. For the sensor (coupler inside diameter 5.0 inches and height 0.50 inches) with slenderness parameter of unity, four important conclusions were drawn from the data. At a given location in the flow field the magnitude of the tangential …